Antique Tunbridge Ware Writing Slope

Tunbridge Ware writing box with waisted sides, veneered in beautiful figured rosewood with a view of Tonbridge Castle. The interior is entirely original and comprises a tooled red velvet writing surface, a pair of Tunbridge Ware inkwells and Tunbridge dip pen.
This fabulous Tunbridge writing slope comes complete with a fully working lock with tasselled key.

Tunbridge Ware items originate from the beautiful spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent. We always have a very good selection which showcase the techniques of tessellated mosaic, stickware, perspective cube mosaic, vandyke and painted pen work.

Tunbridge Wells and Tunbridge in Kent, England became popular in the 17th Century for their therapeutic waters. By the 18th century Tunbridge Wells was a hugely popular Spa resort. Shops and stalls were set up to sell local work of distinction to visitors as souvenirs. Many of the original boxes were decorated with all sorts of different kinds of designs.

Many of the Tunbridge boxes had a central image with views of castles, churches, pavilions, animals, country scenes and sometimes people, such as the Young Prince of Wales. These were surrounded by a variety of bandings and panels of floral and geometric designs.